Guyot on Carl Bitter. 53 



specific characters, are the fundamental causes which de- 

 termine their special functions in the life of nature and of 

 mankind. Eitter discussed each of these topics in a series of 

 five papers which were read before the Acadamy of Science of 

 Berlin, between 1826 and 1856, and which have since been 

 reprinted separately in a small volume, to which I have allud- 

 ed, together with the introduction to the " Erdkunde," under 

 the title of " Memoirs to serve as a foundation for a more scien- 

 tific treatment of Geography," " Abhandlungen zur Begrun- 

 dung eine melir wissenschaftliclien Behandlung der Erd- 

 kunde." 



In treating of the configuration of the continents, Eitter 

 considers both their horizontal dimensions, or the size and the 

 contours, and their vertical dimensions, or the absolute and 

 relative elevations of their mass which constitute their relief. 

 To the study of this last element, which act so powerfully on 

 the climate, and through it on all animated nature, and which 

 has been nevertheless so long neglected, Eitter gives a decided 

 prominence. A continent is not the flat surface that maps 

 seem to indicate ; it is a solid body, the plastic forms of which 

 have to be carefully delineated. Eitter distinguishes the ex- 

 tensive low-lands, maritime and continental, from the massive 

 elevations of the table-lands or plateaux, and these again from 

 the linear elevations of the mountain chains. To the table- 

 lands, or elevated surfaces, he assigns, like Humboldt, the 

 most important part in these vast structures. He showed 

 that every continent has for its centre a large intumescence 

 which makes, as it were, its main trunk, and around which are 

 grouped as many secondary organs, its various physical re- 

 gions. From that high central mass, and from the mountain 

 chains which often mark its borders, the main streams of the 

 continent descend towards the low-lands and the ocean, 

 through a series of terraces or mountainous districts full of 

 fertile valleys, which connect, as transition forms, the central 

 highlands of the low, maritime plains of culture which sur- 

 round them. Still beyond, far projecting into the domain of 

 the ocean, rich peninsulas, as in Asia and Europe, form a third 

 circle, and with large islands, true fragments of the continent 

 scattered along its shores, surround the whole structure with 

 a series of most useful appendages, as with a garland of bril- 

 liant flowers. 



When compared under this aspect, the three continents of 

 the Old World, not to speak of the others, show striking dif- 

 ferences. Africa has one large and uniform plateau filling the 



